High School Dual Enrollment Program

Dual enrollment is an opportunity to take college-level courses that supplement your high school curriculum. Qualified students earn college credits and experience the workload of a college class through the program. Students who have completed their junior year or are currently in their senior year of high school are eligible for dual enrollment. Exceptions for high school juniors and underclass students are considered on a case-by-case basis.

For more information, please contact Shari Routch, director of enrollment management, at [email protected] or 814-949-5466.

Spring 2025 Course Offering

EMET 100

1 credit
Wednesdays, 8:30–10:00 a.m.
Runs January 1–May 2, 2025
Instructor: Jordan Bittner
Location: Greater Altoona Career and Technology Center

How to Apply

If you are interested in pursuing dual credit enrollment courses at Penn State, please submit the following documentation to [email protected]:

  • A non-degree high school enrollment form signed by your high school counselor or principal. The form is accessible via the Undergraduate Admissions site.
  • High school transcript.
  • Students who have not completed their eleventh-grade year of high school must also submit a letter of recommendation from a high school teacher, counselor, or principal.
  • Standardized testing is recommended for juniors only (SAT, ACT, PSSA, PSAT, Keystone, NOCTI).

Application Deadlines

Please be aware of the following application deadlines:

  • August 1 for the fall semester (late August-mid-December)
  • December 1 for the spring semester (mid-January-late April)
  • June 1 for the summer session (late June-early August)

Tuition

Dual enrollment students are charged at the part-time student cost-per-credit, currently $641 per credit for Pennsylvania students.

Dual enrollment students at Penn State Altoona receive a 50% discount. For example, tuition for a three-credit course is $1,923. Dual enrollment students would pay $961.50. Scholarships are also available.

Pennsylvania Child Protective Services Law (PACPSL) Compliance Statement

Annually, over 600 high school students schedule college courses from a multitude of disciplines at Penn State campuses.

Per recent changes to the Pennsylvania Child Protective Services Law (PACPSL), Penn State Altoona will continue to provide courses this spring for qualified dual-enrolled students, in full compliance with the required background checking requirements listed below:

Faculty who teach classes in which dual-enrolled students under the age of 18 are registered, as well as staff who provide professional or support services, such as advising, counseling, or tutoring and students who serve in peer roles such as advising, mentoring, or tutoring to these students, are required by state law to have the following three clearances: Pennsylvania State Police Criminal Background Check (SP4-164), Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Clearance Form (CY-113) and Federal (FBI) Fingerprint Criminal Background Check (Criminal History Report). Effective January 1, 2016, all individuals (current employees and new hires) interacting with dual-enrolled students under the age of 18 are required to have valid clearances in place.

In order to ensure compliance in all future semesters, Penn State Altoona will identify sections of courses that typically enroll the most high school students and will confirm that faculty teaching these courses have completed the required background checks. This course list will be shared with current and future dual-enrolled students through their guidance counselors and academic advisers and through print and Web information.

In addition, staff and students who provide services such as academic advising, tutoring, and mentoring will be required to complete the three required background checks.

Questions regarding Penn State Altoona's compliance with PACPSL can be directed to Shari Routch, director of enrollment management, at [email protected].